Dust mop



H. H. SAENZ DUST MQP t March 7, 1961 Filed Jan. 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 7, 1961 H. H. SAENZ 2,973,540

DUST MOP Filed Jan. 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Share?. 2 @Q94 le 13 12 u WIM/Tj/L/MTOM/Mf DUST MOP Henry H. Saenz, Chicago, Ill., assignor to 4 American-Marietta Company Filed Jan. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 2,048

6 Claims. (Cl. 15-229) This invention relates to a swivel yarn mop, and is Patented Mar. 7, 1961 Fig. v1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a yarn mop embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view, vtaken lalong the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the center member adapted to be rotatably mounted in the mop head;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through the mop head, showing the center member in position to be secured to the mop head;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the mop head I with the socket securedin place;

particularly concerned with means for facilitating washj ing the mop body and reassembling it with the rest of the mop structure.

' Heretofore it has been customary in connection with 'yarn mops to detachably secure the mop body to the mop head so that when the mop body becomes dirty it may head. The commercial success of such mops depends, to'a largeextent, upon the length of time and effort required to remove and reattach the mop body to the mop head.

In accord-ance with the present invention, the mop body Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 s a cross sectional view, similar to Fig. 6, showing the socket raised angularly from the position shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the socket extending at right angles to the top plane surface of the rotatable center member and fully engaged with the hook member. be removed, washed, dried and reattached to the mop reattached to the mop head very quickly andeasily so i that substantially no time is required beyond that actually used for washing the mop.

The mop handle is mounted in a socket that is removably secured to a center member rotatably mounted in an opening provided therefor in the mop head. The rotatable mounting of the center member permits the mop head and body to turn through 360 -in its horizontal plane to facilitate moving the mop body into hardto-reach places. The mop head is preferably provided with an'internal annular ange contiguous to the opening in whichi the centermember is mounted, and the center member is provided with lateral projections spaced vertically-a distance substantially equal to the height'bf the tiange ofthe mop head. One of the vertically spaced projections preferably comprises a series of three wedge shaped lugs projecting downwardly and outwardly from the upper edge of the center member and the other 'preferably comprises an annular flange extending outwardly from the bottom edge of the center member. Either one ofthe projections of the center member or the flange of the-.mop head is resilient, so that the center mem-ber be eas-ily. and quickly secured to the mop head.

Y The center member has a vertical hook member projecting above its top plane surface having a reentrant free end on its hook. The vertical distance between the top plane. surface of the center member and the lowermost surface of the-reentrant free end of the vertical hook member-.is dimensioned to facilitate attachment ofthe socket lto the mop. The free end of the hook extends Referring to the drawings, the mop comprises a mop body 2,= a mop head 3T, a rotatable' center member 4,A a socket 5, and a handle 5a. The mop body comprises a plurality of uniform strands of yarn, preferably nylon or a nylon b-lend, that may be washed with a detergent in hot water without damage. The mop body is usually washed lin a conventional washing machine. The mop body is permanently secured to the mop head in any suitable manner.` 'Since the yarn of the mop body is permanently secured to the mop head,'the mop head is thrown into the washing machine with the mop body and must also be capable of withstand-ing detergents and hot water temperatures without deleterious elfect. Polyethylene is preferably used for the mop head, but other materials having the requisite characteristics may be used, if desired.

Although the mop head is shown as being circular in horizontal cross section, it may be of Iany desired shape. The circular shape ispreferred because it permits the ya-rn of the mop body -to swirl under and around furniture, including furniture having short legs, and thereby facilitates dusting in hardtoreach areas.

The mop head is provided with la centrally disposed 8. The upper surface 10 of mop head 3 slopes downinwardly so that the socket cannot be accidentally displaced" from the vertical hook member. The reentrant free 'end of the vertical hook member is preferably slightly j ction .wi'th'the accompanying drawings showing a prefencedillustrative embodiment of the invention, in which; n3 three, wedge shaped lugs 14 which extend downwardly means f 'which the @we niemingd "1" watrdly and outwardly from its center and is preferably provided with a plurality of radially disposed grooves 11. Center member 4 is preferably made of a high-impact,

rigid, styrene-type thermoplastic lresin capable of with.

standing detergents and a `temperature of F. without deleterious effect. A suitable resin of this type is made by Marbon Chemical Division of Borg-Warner Corporation and sold to the public under the registered trademark Cycolac. The center member has an intermediate cylindrical wall 12 havinga diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of annular flange 7.

A lateral flange 13 extends outwardly from the lower edge portion of cylindrical'wall`12 and forms one of the projections -adapted-to hold the1 mop `head and mop body together-as a unit." Flange 13 'is-'adapted' to engage the underside of 'flange ;71':when.the center member is rotatablyj-mountedrin. .the 'mop head;` .The yother projection that helps to hold the-mop` head and mop body together as aunit preferably comprises a plurality, preferably permanent bond between thehandle and socket.

agrarian and outwardly from the top plane surface 15 of the center member. The lower edge of each lug 14 is parallel' to ange 13, and is spaced above the upper surface thereof a distancesubstantially equal. to the heightof ange 7. A vertical hook member 16.v extends'upwardly om the peripheral edge of `top planecsurface 1S. Hook member 16 has a reentrant free end 17 that isespaced, above top plane surface 15.and is, slightly resilient.k Free; end 17 extends toward the upright portionof thehook mem-.- ber to form a restricted entry to the undersideof the hook, for a purpose hereinafter described. In the-embodiment shown, hook member 16l is-reinforcedrby. a centrally disposed vertical web 1&integ-raLtherewith. Center member 4 is provided with a` vertical bore 19.1011 each side of web 18. l

Center member 4 is pressedinto openingv 6 to force lugs 14 past ange 7 in order to mount the center member rotatably in mop head 3.V Flange 7 is suiciently resilient to be temporarily deformed by lugs 14 and to spring back to its original position when thezlugsiclear it. The peripheral edge of ange 13 extends outwardly too far to permit it to be force-d pastange7. Accordingly, the lower edge of each lug 14'engages the upper surface of flange 7 at shoulder 9, and the upper surface oftange 13 engages the lower surface of ange 7 to hold center member 4 rotatably mounted in opening` 6 of mop head 3.

Sufficient clearance is provided; between cylindrical wall surface 12, lugs 14, flange13. and the contiguous' surfaces of flange 7 to permit center member 4,to.be easily rotated in opening 6. If. desired, lugs ,I4-may be resilient and ange 7 may, be. rigid. ItisA also-possibleto-reverse lugs 14 and flange 13. In suchevent. the: lugs would have their wide surfaceV apthefupper end of each lug, and the center member would be; secured' in place. by forcing the lugs downwardly'past flange 7. Regardless of the specific constructionv of'center member 4, its top plane surface 1S is preferably coplanar with the upper surface of annular rib 8 when the center member is secured to the mop head between the projections 13 and 14.

Socket is tubular and handle Sa fits snugly therein.

yPreferably the handle is pressed fitted into 4the socket and the interior of the socketis provided with a plurality of longitudinal ribs' adapted to dig into handleSa to prevent rotation of the handle in the socket. If' desired, the handle may be glued in the socket to form asubstantially The bottom end of socket 5 is provided with a yoke comprising a pair of integral arms 20 and Z1 extending below transverse wall 22 of the socket and adapted to fit on opposite sides of vertical hook member 16.

A pivot pin 23 extends inwardly from arm 20, and a similar pin 24 extends inwardly from arm 21. Pins 23 and 24 are axially aligned and extend perpendicul-arly to the longitudinal axis of'handle 5a; Pins 23 and 24 are adapted to engage hook member 16 on opposite sides of `web 18 to pivotally secure the lower end of the socket 6 to center member 4.

Pins 23 and 24 are spaced equidis-tant from the edges of arms 20 and 21 so that the socket may Ibesecured with either edge uppermost. In the embodiment shown, when socket 6 is substantially iiush with top plane surface 15, the upper edges of pins 23 and 24 are spaced from said top plane surface a distanceflessthan thevertical distance between free end 17 Aofhook.member 16 and top plane surface` 1S so that the socket maybe pushed until pins 23 and 24 engage the upright portion of hook member 16. The outer, end of the handle may'then be lifted to forcev pins. Z3-and 24 past the. restricted entry formed by fr ee.end 17 of hook member 16. The pins force free end17 outwardly tov pass, and the freeend then snaps back into placeto pivotally `hold pins-23 and 24. The procedure is reversed to remove the handle'socket from themop.

If hook member 16 is not provided with a reinforcing web 18, a single pin (not shown) may replace the' pair of pins 23 and 24. Such single pin would cooperate with hook member 16 in the same manner as the pair of pins 23 and 24.

The above detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only; No unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to thoseskilledlin the art.

I claim:

1. A yarn mop which comprises: a mop body including `a plurality of strands of yarn; a mop head attached to said mop'body, said' mop head havinga centrally disposed opening; a rotatable center member having a cylindrical outer wall and a plurality of lateral projections extending outwardly from said cylindrical wall beyond the edge of said mop head dening said opening when said center member is positioned in. said opening, said lateral projections being spaced vertically to span? the .edge of saidY mophead contiguous to said opening at a plurality of points spaced radially of said opening, said center member being -insertable into said opening by means of a resiilent interengagement betweenthe edge of the mop head contiguous to saidopening and said plurality of lateral projections, the edge of the mop head contiguous to said openingbeing adapted to be held between` said. verticallyI spacedgprojections', a socket; a mop handle secured in-the upper end of said socket; a pairof arms projecting longitudinally from the bottom of said socket; pivot means disposedV between said arms, said pivot means extending .perpendicularlyto the longitudinal axisA of saidmop handle; said center member having a top plane surface and a vertical hook member extending upwardly fromsaid top plane surface, said vertical hook member. having an upstanding section and a hooksection adapted to cooperate with said upstandingsection to rotatably support said pivot means, said hook section having a free end restricting the entrance into the space 4betweensaid cooperating sections, said pivot meansfbeing insertable between said cooperating sections by means of aresilient interengagement with the free end of said hook section.

2. A yarn mop which comprises: a mopbody includinga plurality ofstrands ofv yarn; a mop head attached. to said mop body, said mop head having a centrally dis# posed opening; a rotatable center member having acylin- .drical outer wall and a group of three lateral projections extending outwardly from one end of said cylindrical wall beyondthe edge of said mop head defining said opening when said center member is positioned in said opening, another lateral projection near the other end of said cylindrical Wall, said group of projections' and said other projection being spaced vertically to spanuthe edge ofY said mop head contiguous to said opening at three points spaced radially of said opening, said center member'being insertable into said opening bymeansofa resilient interengagement between the edge of the mop head contiguous to said opening and said group of three lateral projections, said three projections being wedge shaped withthe smaller end of the wedge directed toward the upper edge of said center member, the edge of the mop head contiguous to said opening beingadapted to be held between said .three projections and said other projection; a socket; a mop handle secured in the upper end of said socket; a pair of arms projecting longitudinally from the bottom ofv said socket; pivot means disposed between said arms, said pivot means extending .perpendicularly to the longitudinal'axis of said mop handle; said center member having a top plane surface and a vertical hook member extendingV upwardly from said top plane surface; said vertical hook member having an upstanding section and a hook'section' adapted yto coperate with said 'upstanding section to rotatably support-said pivot means, said hook section having a free end" restrictingthel entrance into the-spacerbetween'said cooperating'sections',

said pivot means being insertable between said cooperating sections by means of a resilient interengagement with the free end of said hook section.

3. A yarn mop which comprises: a mop body including a plurality of strands of yarn; a mop head attached to said mop body, said mop head having a centrally disposed opening; a rotatable center member having a cylindrical outer wall and a plurality of lateral projections extending outwardly from said cylindrical wall beyond the edge of said mop head defining said opening when said center member is positioned in said opening, said lateral projections being spaced vertically to span the edge of said mop head contiguous to said opening at a plurality of points spaced radially of said opening, said center member being insertable into said opening by means of a resilient interengagement between the edge of the mop head contiguous to said opening and said plurality of lateral projections, the edge of the mop head contiguous to said opening being adapted to be held between said vertically spaced projections; a socket; a mop handle secured in the upper end of said socket; a pair of arms projecting longitudinally from the bottom of said socket; a pivot pin disposed between said arms, said pivot pin extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of said mop handle; said center member having a top plane surface and a vertical hook member extending upwardly from said top plane surface, said vertical hook member comprising an upstanding section and a hook section having a reentrant free end that extends the bend in the hook beyond 180, said hook section being adapted to cooperate with said upstanding section to rotatably support said pivot pin, said reentrant free end of said hook section being resilient to permit said pivot pin to be inserted between said cooperating sections of said vertical hook member.

4. A yarn mop which comprises: a mop body includ ing a plurality of strands of yarn; a mop head attached to said mop body, said mop head having a centrally disposed opening and an internal annular flange defining the periphery of said opening; a rotatable center member having a cylindrical outer wall and a plurality of lateral projections extending outwardly from said cylindrical wall beyond the inner edge of said ange when said center member is positioned in said opening, said lateral projections being spaced vertically to span the edge of said flange at a plurality of points spaced radially of said opening, said center member being insertable into said opening by means of a resilient interengagement between said flange and said plurality of lateral projections, said ange being adapted to be held between said vertical spaced projections; a socket; a mop handle secured in the upper end of said socket; a pair of arms projecting longitudinally from the bottom of said socket; a pair of axially aligned pivot pins disposed between said arms, said pivot pins extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of said mop handle; said center member having a top plane surface, a vertical hook member extending upwardly from said top plane surface and a vertical web reinforcing said hook member, said vertical hook member having an upstanding section and a hook section adapted to cooperate with said upstanding section to rotatably support said pivot pins, said hook section having a free end restricting the entrance into the space between said cooperating sections on each side of said web, said pivot pins being insertable between said cooperating sections on opposite sides of said web by means of a resilient interengagement with the free end of said hook section.

5. A yarn mop which comprises: a mop body includ-l ing a plurality of strands of yarn; a mop head attached to said mop body, said mop head having an opening in the center thereof; a rotatable center member; projections on the outer wall of said center member spaced apart vertically at a slightly greater distance than the thickness of said mop head contiguous to said center opening and extending outwardly slightly beyond the perimeter of said opening when said center member is positioned in said opening, said mop head being formed of resilient material so that said rotatable center member can be forced into the center opening of the mop head until the spaced projections of said center member span the side walls of said mop head contiguous to said center opening; said center member having a top plane surface and a vertical hook member extending above said top plane surface; a mop handle; a yoke at the bottom of said handle comprising a pair of arms extending longitudinally of said handle; and a pivot pin disposed between the arms of said yoke perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the mop handle, the clearance between the free end of said vertical hook member and the upstanding portion of said hook member being slightly less than the diameter of said pivot pin, the free end of said vertical hook member being resilient so as to permit said pivot pin to be snapped into place between the free end of said hook member and the underside of its'top.

6. A yarn mop which comprises: a mop body including a plurality of strands of yarn; a mop head attached to said mop body, said mop head having an opening in the center thereof and an internal annular ange defining the periphery of said opening; a rotatable center meinber; projections on the outer wall of said center member spaced apart vertically at a slightly greater distance than the thickness of saidtiange and extending outwardly slightly beyond the perimeter of said opening when said center member is positioned in said opening, said flange being resilient so that said rotatable center member can be forced into the center opening of the mop head until the spaced projections of said center member span said iiange; said center member having a top plane surface and a vertical hook member extending above said` top plane surface; a mop handle; a yoke at the bottom of said handle comprising a pair of arms extending longitudinally of said handle; and a pivot pin disposed between the arms of said yoke perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the mop handle, the clearance between the free end of said vertical hook and the upstanding portion of said hook member being slightly less than the diameter of said pivot pin, the free end of said vertical hook being resilient so as to permit said pivot pin to be snapped into place between the free end of said hook and the underside of its top.

No references cited. 

